Unsolicited, personal testimonies from parents who decided against abortion.

Page Summary:

The stories on these pages have come to Abort73 through our online submission form and general emails. Where known, demographic data is included.

"My boyfriend and I were in third year on campus, and I had just lost my virginity with him. I was naive and not really enlightened on the use of contraceptives. It was on my birthday that I had unprotected sex with him. Little did I know I would become pregnant on that same day. A month later, I would be holding a positive pregnancy test. I was in great shock; in fact I was trembling. I didn't…"

"I was 17 when I found out I was 7-weeks pregnant. I had only been dating my boyfriend for six months, and I was a senior in high school. I was terrified, embarrassed, confused, and about every other emotion under the sun. I told him immediately and he assumed I wanted to keep the baby, but I was considering an abortion—due to how scared I was. I went to a local women’s center that preformed…"

"Ladies, Girls, think twice—that little foetus inside of you may be destined for greatness!! Twenty eight years ago I discovered that I was pregnant. My second of two children was 12-years-old and my career was really taking off. I did not want another child. I already had a boy and a girl, I did not want to have to deal with diapers and feeding and sleepless nights at the ripe old age of 38.…"

"I was young and had everything—a great-paying job and no worries—until I was irresponsible and got my IUD taken out. I didn’t use the pill because I thought I wouldn't get pregnant! I went out a lot, trusted people. I went to a house party with my friend. It was fun until the sun came out. She went to bed with a guy, and I went to sleep down stairs. I knew the guys there; I trusted them.…"

"I didn't want him that night. But I didn’t want to fight about it. I had Cerebral Palsy and had been diagnosed with Asthma. I found myself pregnant at 26-years-old. I was scared, surprised, and I felt alone. I sought out help online. I called abortion centers. My doctor said it wouldn't be selfish but smart—to give up. I wanted to give up so badly. I had Hyperemesis Gravidarum. I started…"

"About 58 years ago my grandmother and grandfather were on their way to elope when an argument ensued. My grandfather threw the wedding ring out the window and instead of getting married that day, they conceived my dad. My grandfather was very abusive towards my grandmother; he committed violence against her on numerous occasions. When she shared with him that she was pregnant, he was furious…"

"Five yeas ago, on Fourth of July weekend, I found out that I was pregnant. I was nervous because the father was someone I had only been with a month. I was living with a friend and had recently quit my job. The baby’s father was not at all happy when he found out. He said he wanted nothing to do with the baby or me—and that’s the last I heard from him. My mom was sick and in the hospital…"

"She practically danced to the front of the room as I was setting up for class and other students were arriving. That's just the way she is—vivacious, always smiling. "Hey Professor, wanna see my new tattoo?" I agreed, then prayed the location of said ink was ... er ... anatomically appropriate. You never know. She took off her shoe and showed me some Chinese writing on the top of her foot.…"

"I had a strange upbringing—a mix of feminism and biker gang. My mother was very emotionally unstable and both my parents were atheists. My mother was verbally abusive, so I had problems with drinking and drugs. My father adopted me, but treated me like I was his own for the most part. I got pregnant when I was 20. I knew immediately. I put a cigarette up to my lips and nearly vomited. I just…"

"About seven months ago, a coworker told me she was pregnant and thinking about having an abortion. I told her not to. She asked why. And so I told her my story, about how my abortion still affects me years later. She decided not to get an abortion. And she actually asked if me and my fiancé would take the baby. I wanted to really badly, but we wouldn't be married by time the baby was born. She…"

"I was always in and out of a relationship with my baby father, but we never stop contacting each other—so we always make up. I had moved from my mom’s house, to his parent’s house, to my cousin’s house, back to his house, back to my mom’s house, and am now living in HUD housing with my best friend, who put me under her lease. I have one child who is about to be 3-years-old in March.…"

"This happened about three years ago. I had met him a few months before, and he seemed like a perfect gentleman. Little did I know. I remember how the first time we did the deed he asked we make a pinky promise that we wouldn’t fall pregnant, not anytime soon. Little did I know that on that day, we actually made a baby. I missed my period, which confused me because I was on the pill. I guess…"

"In 2012, I was 18 and a recent high school graduate. My plan was to go to college. Little did I know that I would become pregnant that summer. I was excited because the person I thought was the love of my life would also be happy. I told him the news, and he was excited and supportive—at first. Then one day, everything changed. He started to act differently, and by this time we were living…"

"I have faced the question of abortion in four of my five pregnancies. Each one fit some of the most common "pro choice" arguments. I was too young (16) I was pregnant by an abusive man. (I hesitate to call it rape, but I did not consent) The pregnancy was "not viable.” I already had three children, I had no money, and people would think badly of me. The last pregnancy was the only one that…"

"On October 13, 1992, I gave birth to a baby girl. Two days later, she went home with her adoptive parents. Twenty-three years later, it is still the hardest and best decision I ever made. There are options. Releasing a child isn't easy; it's a hard road to travel and few take it, but my life is not full of guilt and “what ifs?” I know where she is; I know she was given a life I couldn't…"